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Last week, I picked up a novel called The Magicians by Lev Grossman, thinking that this might be a fun read for our girlie. As I found it in the teen section, however, I decided to read it first. (Confession: I love kids books, teen books, ANY books.)
Whew. Thank goodness I checked it out! Within the first two pages, the author introduced topics including virginity (or lack thereof), masturbation, as well as some... flavorful... language.
Now, I'm not a book burner. In fact, nothing incites me more than extremist groups who try to ban Harry Potter from school libraries. But, I do worry about age appropriateness, particularly when a 10-year-old reads books with teen protagonists.
Yep. Not passing along this book to my daughter just yet.
Don't get me wrong—it's a good read so far. It's just too mature for my Kiki. Although she loves books with magic and fantasy, this one has a bit too much harsh reality that I don't want her to experience ever too soon.
Still, there is something magical about pushing the limits. As a child, I definitely read books that were too advanced for my age. And boy, do I remember the trouble we got in for passing around my friend Diane's dog-eared copy of Forever. I wasn't typically a rule breaker, but on the few occasions that I did—it was, well, thrilling.
And empowering.
Maybe even a little magical.
Breaking the rules and pushing limits is still a bit of a rush—but now, my rebelliousness lives in the garden.
(Wow, writing that aged me about 20 years, didn't it?)
I admit—I am very behind on my gardening chores this fall. In fact, I just planted our fall vegetable garden—two weeks ago. Even by South Carolina, zone 7b standards...that's late. It's almost futile.
Unless you push the limits and disobey certain rules.
Recently, I've become enamored with the concept of season extension. What can I do, with our little piece of earth, to feed my family throughout the winter? How can I keep my fall garden producing? Can I fight the elements and extend the harvest, even if the "experts" disagree? Will my garlic crop fail if I don't get it planted by Halloween? Will my lettuce wither and melt if I plant it in late October instead of mid-September? Or can I thumb my nose at conventional gardening wisdom and produce a bumper crop of brassicas to harvest in January?
The key, I think, is to break some of the rules...but still adhere to some of the tried and true methods for season extension.
There's a really terrific program with which I'm lucky enough to be associated: Greenville Organic FoodsOrganization's (GOFO) Grow Healthy Kids. Through GOFO, schools in a local district can participate in growing an edible garden, complete with lessons that match the ever important state curriculum standards. The students receive transplants and seeds, as well as organic fertilizer and supplies, from GOFO. However, the key to the success of the gardens is the highly technical row covers GOFO provides, which allows the schools to protect their crops during cold periods, so that the kids can continue to harvest crops throughout the semester.
Plastic covering + bent metal masonry ladders = mini greenhouses.
The schools can participate in both the spring and fall, with the focus on cool weather crops, since those are the veggies most easily grown during the school year in Upstate South Carolina. The low tunnels are easy to install, and the supports can remain in place throughout the growing season. When a freeze watch is issued, the teacher or students can simply place the plastic over the supports, securing the covering to the ground with rocks or bricks to keep it in place. The plastic protects the plants from damaging frost and insulates the plants from severe temperatures. On average, the temperature in the low tunnel is approximately 10 degrees warmer than the outside air. In our zone, those 10 degrees can mean the difference between an ongoing harvest—and complete crop loss.
Because I'm the Master Gardener liaison for the Grow Healthy Kids program, I decided it's time to practice what I preach.
Typically, I plant our fall garden in the potager—my experiment in an attempt to design a formal, attractive kitchen garden. Honestly, our other gardens are—to put it nicely—wild. Unkempt. In serious need of hours of weeding and prettifying. The potager is my one place that I try to keep balanced and organized.
It's also the perfect experiment for bending the rules with season extension.
Because the potager resides in the midst of our backyard, and because our two sweet pups are fabulous destroyers of all things green, my darling husband installed a fence around the potager when we designed it.
My supports are already in place!
With no need to buy additional hardware to make low tunnel supports, I headed to the big orange box store to purchase the plastic cover. I spent a little bit more for a thicker covering. Wow--who knew how many assorted plastic drop cloths are available? For $25, I found a 4 mm, 20' x 50' plastic sheet to serve as the insulation of the low tunnel.
Honestly, the trickiest part of installing my winter covering was unrolling the plastic—if you have a friend handy, recruit the extra pair of hands. Still, in less than 15 minutes, the potager was covered, the plastic was secured to the ground on each side of the fence with several rocks, and the cool weather crops were insulated against the nighttime low of 30 degrees.
Now, that's cold for South Carolina!
While the plastic protects against the freezing temperatures, it can also damage the garden if the temperature spikes. Immediately following our few days of freezing nights, we're back in the 70s this week.
The beauty of the low tunnel system is its simplicity—when it's warm, roll the cover off the frame and leave it on the ground (or, in my case, on one side of the fence...)
and when the temperature drops—pull the cover back over the frame.
Presto! Fresh veggies into the winter!
It's like magic! (I hope.)
So, because I planted the fall garden so recently, I haven't harvested anything from it yet. Soon, I hope we'll have lettuce (eight heirloom varieties), spinach, chard, broccoli, pac choi, red cabbage, and cauliflower.
But, because of the "Produce Post" hosted by smallkitchengarden.net, I thought I'd share a few things we're enjoying this week from the garden:
The fraise des bois keep surprising me. Even after several frosts, they are still producing fruit—and more flowers! Love, love these tiny delicious garden gems.
Last night, along with the quiche made from the eggs provided by our backyard chickens and enhanced with chives from the garden...
...we ate one of the last tomatoes of the season...picked green and ripened in a paper bag with a banana. Ripening green tomatoes was a huge success—our freezer is now filled with bags of tomatoes to use this winter, all picked while still green.
Our nine varieties of garlic harvested this summer continue to be a staple ingredient in almost every dish we cook. How can anyone not like garlic—especially homegrown garlic?
Probably the single most prevalent item I'll be using from the garden this week will be herbs...lots and lots of sage, parsley, rosemary, and thyme for Thanksgiving dinner. Our local, organic turkey will be dressed with many herbs. I'm still harvesting:
Provence lavender
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley
Pineapple Mint
Tri-Color Sage
Curly Parsley
Greek Oregano
Lemon Thyme
Rosemary, possibly my favorite of all herbs.
So, while we won't be eating from the potager just yet, we might be harvesting heirloom lettuce to serve at Christmas dinner.
Homegrown lettuce in December? It's kind of...magical, don't you think?
Happy gardening!


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I woke up this morning, and what did I see?
"The Breakfast Club" was on my TV.
– Fogs
I promise, I won't expose you to my poetry often, it's just that sometimes I have something really insightful that I feel will benefit or illuminate everyone, as in the case above.
True story though, pulled up the tv tray, pouring me some cereal and there it was. "The Breakfast Club". On a premium channel no less, so no commercials. Are you gonna NOT switch to that?? Of course you're gonna. Plus – I'm eating breakfast, how ironic! So I'm watching it, it's a little way in, and I guess my newfound perspective as a blogger has me watching it a little more closely than usual.
And you know what? It's great. I mean, that movie is just great. So so awesome. I felt like I was watching it with fresh eyes, and the greatness of it really just struck me hard.
I know, I know. NEWSFLASH! Right? But, you know, there are people out there who haven't seen these things, folks! I spent a lot of time this weekend checking out other people's blogs and… it's a younger generation out there. There was one kid who said "Jaws" was boring. Man, these movies are getting OLD now. We have to protect these flicks, keep them alive, in the discussion. That's up to us!
So. Seeing as I was looking for excuses to write-up older movies anyways, I decided I would write this series about Movies That Everyone Should See. If you want to call yourself a film fan, and you haven't seen one of these flicks, my opinion of you loses points. If you're a casual viewer and you haven't watched them, what the hell are you waiting for. These will be the no brainer, mortal lock, absolute shoo-in, first ballot hall of fame type movies that there's absolutely no excuse for not having seen.
Let's start here. The Breakfast Club.
The year is 1985. Right smack in the middle of the 1980s. Reagan is President in a second term. The cold war is still on. The Berlin Wall is still up. "We are the World" is released and Live Aid happens. Coke releases New Coke. "The Cosby Show" is the most popular show on television.
Into the mix is a young (34) director named John Hughes, who at this point in time, isn't really "John Hughes" yet. He's only got one movie to his credit as a director to this point, "Sixteen Candles".
For those reading who honestly haven't seen it (seriously, you're picking it up this week, right?) "The Breakfast Club" is the story of five high schoolers who are forced to serve detention on a Saturday. The five are seated in the school library and watched over by their angry principal, Richard Vernon (played by Paul Gleason). Vernon assigns them an essay to write, then heads back to his office, occasionally spot-checking back in on them but otherwise leaving the teens to themselves.
"You're mine, Bender. For two months, I gotcha. I gotcha."
The teens begin the day with nothing in common, as each of them come from distinctly different places in the High School strata. But the five bicker, banter, battle and bond and before the day is out, friendships and romances have formed. For a movie that is essentially five actors on a single set with no action and no clear antagonist, this film does an incredible job of engrossing the viewer. How? By setting up clearly defined obstacles to friendship between the individuals, and then slowly breaking them down. It's like a high school version of "12 Angry Men". At the beginning, each is set in their ways and opinions, but as the day progresses, the interchanges between them force reconsideration of their positions. Eventually, once the barriers have been broken and the teens have accepted that they can relate to each other after all, the common struggle that they've shared to arrive at that point leaves them with a strong bond. They wind up sharing amongst each other in an open and honest environment, revealing feelings and fears that they obviously would have never shared otherwise.
A nerd, a jock, a thug, a weirdo and a princess all shrug off their preconceived notions and respective self images, and for one day at least, become close friends. It's an amazing thing to behold.
The dialogue in this movie is incredible. Absolutely incredible. The movie's runtime is listed at 97 minutes. Within that 97 minutes, you could select a random timestamp anywhere you want, and I'll bet within thirty seconds of playing from that point in the movie you'll come across a line of dialogue that's worthy of being someone's sig line, or a blog's tagline, or someone's personal credo in life. I wondered at one point how Hughes was writing such fantastic, authentic teen dialogue when it hit me. He's not writing for teens, he's writing about teens. There's no slang really, they're not overly abusing teen 80's speak (trust me, I was there). Sure you'll come across a "dweeb" or "wastoid" now and then and lots of "totally"s, but essentially the reason we buy into these character's conversations is what they're talking about, not how they're talking.
And what they're talking about is universal. I don't care if you went to high school twenty years ago, now, or twenty years from now. These are issues that existed then, exist now, and will probably exist forever. Bullying, parental pressures, abusive parents, neglectful parents, social stigmatism, cliques, sex, drugs, self-image, teachers… there's more, too… has any of this stuff changed an iota since 1985? Since 1955? Aren't there still Benders and Claires out there today? Think the Andrews of the world are talking to the Brians of the world in today's high school? No. But they did when like, your parents were young, right? Hell no. And that's one of the elements that lends to the greatness of this film. Everyone experienced this. We all went through it. It should strike a chord with EVERYONE.
Over time, the majority of the credit for this movie has gone to John Hughes. Writer/Director, of course, right? What I'm saying here though is I think this cast gets shortchanged. You almost never hear about how incredible their performances were. Maybe because they were young people playing young people it's easy to overlook what they did. Perhaps, retroactively, due to the fact that none of them really went on to mega success as adults we write off what they did here, when they were younger. Regardless, each of the five of them turn in exceptional, memorable, praise-worthy performances. Judd Nelson's John Bender is a character for the ages! How does the actor behind that not get mega-props? Ally Sheedy adds so much to this flick, comedically. Watching it again today, she's hysterical. In the early part of the movie she doesn't talk, so her contribution is silent reactions and her timing is great. When she finally opens up, she sells her character's weirdness by being goofy and off-beat. How about Anthony Michael Hall? It may not be much of a stretch to see him playing a bookworm geek, but he sells it sooo completely. How about when he asks if they'll all still be friends on Monday? You're not seeing a little of his soul there? C'mon. Even Emilio gets his moment in the sun. His confession about the bullying incident that landed him in detention will probably never be put alongside Quint's "Indianapolis" monologue, but it was a first-rate bit of acting, and very moving.
And then there's America's Sweetheart, Molly Ringwald.
In the 1980s, America was openly in love with Molly Ringwald. She appeared here, in "Sixteen Candles", and "Pretty in Pink" and by the time they had all released, she could have enrolled in any high school in America and been elected prom queen that very day. She was beautiful but not threatening, and an incredible actress. Her performances were fearless… I mean… Ok, let me put it this way. It's HER roles that convinced me that teenaged girls are so self-conscious and vulnerable that AS a teenaged actress, I give her enormous credit for being fearless and bold in her performances and letting the audiences SEE her self-consciousness and vulnerability. It's a mind-blowing, self-perpetuating, closed circuit of a compliment, but there it is. LOL.
In addition to its dramatic calibre, "The Breakfast Club" is also a very decent comedy. I mean, that's actually where you'll find it categorized – in the comedy section. There's plenty of jokes at each others expense as the characters rag on each other, and it's really funny watching Bender square off with Vernon at times. Scatter in a couple of musical montages and dance numbers, and the result is a beautiful, perfect counter-balance to what otherwise could have wound up a serious, weighty flick.
In the end, the writing, the acting and the exploration of universal themes make this movie a movie for the ages. The only thing that's ever going to go stale about it are the clothes and maybe some of the music. I used to nitpick that Emilio acts like he shot amphetamines instead of smoking marijuana, but that's like ten seconds in a 90 minute movie. I also used to complain that the Claire/Bender romance was tacked on. But I've come to accept it because without it we'd have never had the exchange below:
Bender: Remember how you said your parents use you to get back at each other?
Claire: [nods]
Bender: Wouldn't I be OUTSTANDING in that capacity?
So now I love this movie wholeheartedly, without exception. It resonated with my generation like no other film except maybe for "Star Wars". It's a film that I feel that there's no excuse for not having seen aside from age. Let's say…. children below the age of 14 or so are exempt. Other than that, this is a masterpiece that HAS to be a part of everyone's "Movies I've Watched" list.
It's undeniably a "Movie That Everyone Should See".

subset: commoncrawl


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Aboriginal people exposed to British atomic tests in the South Australian outback have been told by lawyers their fight for compensation is over because it is impossible to prove radiation caused their illnesses.
Seven atomic bombs were detonated at Maralinga in the 1950s and '60s on land that has since between handed back to traditional owners.
The Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement employed legal firm Hickman and Rose to pursue a class action in the British courts on behalf of Aboriginal people from the area.
The movement's director of legal services Christopher Charles says the firm is unable to mount a case because it cannot prove ionising radiation is dangerous to human health.
Continue reading at No way forward for Maralinga victims


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Recently, I was having lunch with some girl friends and I was telling them about Cowgirl's last martial arts belt test. Every 3 months the center has testing for the next level belt and the exams include knowing the full form, individual combinations, and concepts such as the school's student creed or black belt code. It is a grueling process - although I am only speaking about my experience as a mother sitting on the sidelines watching her incredibly small but brave child undergo such rigors.
As a rule, the students usually have to test twice. The first round everyone seems to "fail" (they don't label it as such, but that is how it feels) and they are admonished to go home and really practice and prepare. A lot of the time the issue is about attitude: demonstrating confidence, enthusiasm and strength.
That girl and my girl couldn't be more opposite. It has been challenging raising a child who is so different that I was; her responses and reactions beyond anything I could have imagined myself doing or being. Our being together often seems like a great cosmic joke. But if I know anything about the Universe and its sense of humor, I know humor holds the deepest teachings. Being together may be a karmic healing: Cowgirl teaching me about being a warrior and holding firmly to one's convictions while I in turn teach her it's okay to ask for support, not know all the answers, creatively seek solutions and trust in one's softer self. It is about balancing all parts of ourselves and learning from others how to access those aspects of oneself that are less familiar or developed.
I've been thinking a lot about the icons that inspire me; who does embody the me I feel myself to be on the inside? This is the material discussed on Jen Lee's Icon Self cd series which is pretty much rocking my poptarts ever since I popped the first disc in. (Why yes, I have been eating poptarts lately ... much be an inner child thang ... thank you for pointing that out!) The idea that our shadow aspects could be positive or empowered parts of ourselves held in check because culturally they are not considered appropriate (good girls don't make demands or fight back) is something I'd never considered before. But how profound is that idea?
For further clarification of this idea, do take a listen to this piece by Jen Lee on why we need Icons:
Emerging Icons: Why the World Needs Icons from Jen Lee on Vimeo.
And for other videos in her series, check here. I love what Jen is doing in this series and I love the message that we all are seeking to embody the fullest expression of ourselves and that by doing so, we support others in manifesting their whole and complexly wonderful selves.
So when I say I am wandering about many fields of thought, this is what has been on my mind. Healing myself, preparing my daughter so that she has the tools for her own healing (because I am thinking none of us gets out of this task; there is either avoidance or acceptance), and wondering who are my icons and what role models - what heroines - do I want for my girl? I think what is needed is a gallery collection with commentary - a vast pool from which to select and choose and I would love some suggestions. How do you step into the empowered version of yourself? What garb do you don? What tools do you gather? What songs do you play? Who do you turn to for inspiration and insight?


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Felix Griffin of Bat – Wendy WWAD
WW: Well, first off, I was going to ask you how you've been holding up since the recent and tragic death of your daughter Jordan… Felix: That's fine. I'm doing a lot better. I never cried at the funeral. I … Continue reading →
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TOM Craddock's double was in vain as Oxford United paid for a slow start against Dagenham & Redbridge, who won despite playing the final 20 minutes with ten men.
The hosts were unusually flat right from the kick-off and there was little surprise when Sam Williams rewarded Dagenham's enterprise by heading in the opener.
It took Luke Howell's goal early in the second half to stir the U's, who quickly hit back through Craddock.
Luke Wilkinson made it 3-1, before Craddock's second restored hope.
United's attempts to salvage a point were boosted by Kevin Maher's 70th-minute dismissal, but a late Chris Lewington save from Adam Chapman sealed Dagenham's victory.
United's side showed two changes from the side which began Saturday's 2-0 win at Barnet.
Top scorer Craddock replaced Jon-Paul Pittman as expected, but Lee Cox came in for Alfie Potter, who dropped out of the squad with a hamstring
Johnny Mullins and Jake Forster-Caskey returned on the bench, along with Liam Davis, who was included in the squad for the first time this season after injury.
United had only played at home once in the previous month, but the Kassam Stadium was strangely quiet at kick-off.
The home fans had little to cheer in a first half which saw Chris Wilder's side lacking urgency and quality.
Dagenham seized the initiative and Medy Elito tested Ryan Clarke from range with their best early effort.
James Constable did his best to lift the mood, with two efforts on goal in the space of a minute.
The second chance was by far the best, running on to Craddock's through ball with only Chris Lewington to beat. The striker has been in good form, but his shot was too close to the goalkeeper, who blocked.
It was a rare bright moment for the U's, who clearly missed Potter's energy, and Dagenham remained the side who looked most likely to score.
Only a Jake Wright clearance off the line denied Dwight Gayle on 31 minutes, after Clarke had rushed out and failed to stop Williams' cross.
The inevitable finally happened five minutes later, when Williams rose to head in a Matthew Saunders corner.
A clever pass from Chapman presented Constable with another one-on-one late in the half, but again Lewington came out on top.
The game was transformed after the break by four goals in 11 minutes.
Howell doubled the Daggers' lead on 54 minutes, reacting first to fire home after Clarke parried Gayle's shot.
Craddock pulled a goal back on the hour with a brilliant cushioned volley after a lung-busting run and cross from Sean Rigg.
But within a minute United conceded at another corner, when Wilkinson was allowed a free header.
Then it was Dagenham's turn to shoot themselves in the foot. Femi Ilesanmi's awful back pass went straight to Craddock, who steadied himself before netting his 10th goal of the season.
The hectic spell continued when Kevin Maher received his second booking for a high tackle on Peter Leven.
It left United with a man advantage for the remaining 20 minutes.
The home side took some time to get to grips with the situation, but steadily increased the pressure on Dagenham's defence.
A quickly-taken free-kick gave Craddock a hat-trick chance, but he could only shoot over at full stretch from Constable's set-up.
Chapman thought he had equalised with a sweet left-footed shot from Davis' cross, but Lewington made an outstanding one-handed save.
It was the final clear chance as United's good recent run was brought to a halt.
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NVIDIA GeForce GT 445M
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 445M is a fast mid-range laptop graphics card introduced in 2010. It is based on the GF106 core, which is related to the Fermi architecture. Therefore, it supports DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.0. In contrast to the GTX 460M, the card only features 144 of the 192 shader cores. Depending on the configuration, the GPU is available in 128 bit DDR3 or 192 bit GDDR5 for VRAM. The performance difference between the two versions can differ significantly.
GF106 architecture
The GF106 core of the GTX 445M is related to the GF100 core of the GeFore GTX 480M and offers a maximum of 192 shaders and a 192 Bit memory bus with GDDR5. The GT 445M offers only 144 shaders and, in some variants, also a smaller memory bus with DDR3. Except for the memory controllers, the GF106 can essentially be considered a halved GF104. Therefore, the architecture is not comparable to the old GT215 (e.g., GeForce GTS 350M) or GT216 (e.g., GeForce GT 330M) cores.
Unlike the GF100, the smaller GF104, GF106 and GF108 cores were not only shortened, but also considerably modified. In contrast to the GF100, which was designed for professional applications, these latter GF10x chips target the consumer market. They feature more shaders (3x16 instead of 2x16), more texture units (8 instead of 4) and more SFUs per streaming multi-processor (SM).
As there are still only 2 warp schedulers (versus 3 shader groups), Nvidia now uses superscalar execution in order to utilize the higher amount of shaders per SM more efficiently. In other words, the shaders operate more efficiently with higher performance per core.
However, in worst case scenarios the performance can also be worse than of the GF100 and its predecessors. The ECC memory protection, which is important for professional applications, was completely omitted and the FP64 hardware shortened (only 1/3 of the shaders are FP64-capable and thereby only 1/12 of the FP32's performance). Because of these cutbacks, the size of the SM grew only by 25% despite the higher number of shaders and larger warp schedulers with superscalar dispatch capabilities.
Due to the different shader architectures and the higher clock rates of the shader domain, the Nvidia core count cannot be directly compared to AMD cores of the Radeon 5000 series (e.g. HD 5830).
Detailed information on the GF104 architecture (and also the GF106 and GF108 by extension) can be found in the desktop GTX 460 article by Anandtech.
Because the GeForce GT 445M features the new Fermi architecture, the performance is not comparable to older chips with a similar core count. General performance heavily depends on the used memory, as DDR3 should be a bottleneck to the performance. The gaming performance is intended to be on a level with the Mobility Radeon HD 5850, assuming that the same type of graphics memory is used. In our tests, a DDR3 GeForce GT 445M was on average 14% faster than a DDR3 Radeon HD 5850 with DDR3. Furthermore, the the Fermi based chips offer a higher Tessellation performance than DX11 chips of the Radeon HD 5000 series. See below for our detailed benchmark values and gaming tests.
A novel feature of the GF104/106/108 chips is the support for Bitstream HD Audio output via HDMI for Blu-ray playback. Similar the Radeon HD 5730, the GT 445M can transfer Dolby True HD and DTS-HD bitstream without quality loss to a HiFi receiver.
The GT445M offers the PureVideo HD technology for video decoding. The included Video Processor 4 (VP4) supports feature set C and is able to fully decode MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Part 2 (MPEG-4 ASP - e.g., DivX or Xvid), VC-1/WMV9, and H.264 (VLD, IDCT, Motion Compensation, and Deblocking). In our tests, a 1080p H.264 encoded movie was playing fluently at very low CPU utilization (about 1%). A 1080p Youtube Flash video stressed the CPU only at 4%.
Furthermore, the GPU is able to decode two 1080p streams simultaneously (e.g., for Blu-Ray Picture-in-Picture).
Through CUDA, OpenCL and DirectCompute 2.1 support, the GeForce GT 445M can be of help in general calculations. For example, the stream processor can encode videos considerably faster than can a modern CPU. Furthermore, physics calculations can be done by the GPU using PhysX. Certain games, such as Mafia 2 or Metro 2033, natively support this feature.
According to Nvidia, support for 3D Vision on the GT 445M is also new. It enables the laptop to send 3D content (3D games, 3D Web Streaming, 3D photos, 3D Blu-Rays) to a built-in 3D-enabled screen or an external 3D TV if supported by the laptop manufacturer.
According to rumors, the power consumption of the GeForce GT 445M should be about 45 Watt TDP if including the MXM board and memory, which is about the level of a Mobility Radeon HD 5830. If idle, the chip is clocked at 50/100 MHz (chip/shader) in 2D mode and 200/400 in 3D mode for power-saving purposes. Furthermore, the 400M series supports Optimus to automatically switch between the integrated graphics card from Intel and the Nvidia GPU. Most notebooks include this feature, but its implementation is completely dependent on the notebook manufacturer.
GeForce GT 400M Series
| ||||||||||||||||
Codename | N11E-GE | |||||||||||||||
Architecture | Fermi | |||||||||||||||
Pipelines | 144 - unified | |||||||||||||||
Core Speed | 590 MHz | |||||||||||||||
Shader Speed | 1180 MHz | |||||||||||||||
Memory Speed | 1250 MHz | |||||||||||||||
Memory Bus Width | 192 / 128 Bit | |||||||||||||||
Memory Type | DDR3, GDDR5 | |||||||||||||||
Shared Memory | no | |||||||||||||||
API | DirectX 11, Shader 5.0 | |||||||||||||||
technology | 40 nm | |||||||||||||||
Features | Optimus Support, PureVideo HD VP4, 3D Vision, Bitstream HD Audio, CUDA, DirectCompute, OpenCL, OpenGL 4.0, DirectX 11 | |||||||||||||||
Notebook Size | large | |||||||||||||||
Date of Announcement | 03.09.2010 | |||||||||||||||
Link to Manufacturer Page | www.nvidia.com |


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Genetic genealogy truly bears fruit if multiple family members on multiple lines of the family have tested. Learn how to create and manage a project for your family while being mindful of privacy and sensitive issues that may arise.
Join us and Nicka Smith for the live webinar Wednesday, June 8, 2018 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.
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About the presenter
Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, and documentarian with more than 17 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in African ancestored genealogy, reverse genealogy, and family reunion planning and execution. She is also an expert in genealogical research in the Northeastern Louisiana area, sharing genealogy with youth, documenting the ancestral journey, and employing the use of new technology in genealogy and family history research.
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Disney Baby Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Toy Story and More!...
Your little one will love to learn with classic and modern Disney and Pixar characters from Disney Baby! The library includes 12 sturdy board books – the perfect size for little hands – with early learning content including words, numbers, shapes, feelings, and more. All the books are housed in a durable, colorful case with convenient handle so you can take your book set with you on the go and share hours of entertainment and learning!This Book Block library is special because:Carefully chosen concepts help prepare your child for preschoolSharing books with your little one strengthens your bondTurning just-my-size pages leads to a lifelong love of readingHandy tote bag lets your little one learn on the goIncludes wonderful classic characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and more from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; Woody from Toy Story; Simba from The Lion King; Olaf from Frozen, Lightning McQueen from Cars; Bambi; Captain Hook; Peter Pan; Dumbo; Mike from Monsters Inc. and many more!
£8.76 -
Peek-a-Baby: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Who's under the hat? Is that you? PEEK-A-BOO! I see you! This adorable book with fun, interactive flaps begs the youngest and eldest of readers to play along! The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps are perfect for parents and children to share. Look for other Karen Katz books at your favorite store!
£7.99 -
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the award-winning If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, one of the most beloved children's books of all time, from the #1 New York Times bestselling team Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond.If a hungry little mouse shows up on your doorstep, you might want to give him a cookie. And if you give him a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim….This book is a great first introduction to Mouse, the star of the If You Give… series and a perennial favorite among children. With its spare, rhythmic text and circular tale, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is perfect for beginning readers and story time!
£10.88If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
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Babies in the Forest Chunky Lift-a-Flap Board Book...
Introduce your baby or toddler to forest animals including foxes, deer, bears, beavers and more in this adorable lift-a-flap board book. Simple sentences reinforce future language structure while grasping and lifting the sturdy flaps helps develop fine motor skills. A perfect first book! Welcome to the world little one! Come explore Babies in the Forest Lift-a-Flap board book filled with surprises Perfectly sized for little hands and fingers to open and close the flaps. 6 chunky and sturdy flaps are extra strong so your little one can open and close again and again Surprise and delight baby with bright artwork and special treats under each flap Collect all the books in the Babies Love series. From colors and animals to first words and holidays, the Babies Love Chunky Lift-a-Flap series is a great introduction to reading with cheerful, contemporary, and whimsical illustrations and sturdy, easy-to-lift flaps
£7.41 -
12 Beloved Disney Classic Little Golden Books (Disney...
12 classic Disney Little Golden Books in a beautiful collector's box!This collector's edition boxed set contains 12 classic Walt Disney Little Golden Books originally published in the 1950s and 1960s. Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Cinderella, Dumbo, The Lucky Puppy, Mother Goose, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Scamp, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Three Little Pigs, and The Ugly Duckling are beloved tales that belong in every reader's library. This gorgeous boxed set is perfect for children ages 2 to 5 as well as collectors of all ages.Little Golden Books enjoy nearly 100% consumer recognition and have been loved by children for 75 years. They feature beloved classics, hot licenses, and new original stories . . . the classics of tomorrow.
£50.58 -
See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book
There's lots for baby to explore in See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book. This sturdy board book, with bright photgraphs of happy babies, is specially designed to stimulate curiosity through sensory play. Each page has a colorful picture activity that invites baby to touch and explore. There are raised textures to feel, finger trails to follow, and a shiny mirror to look in to. Can they follow the swirl on the snail's shell. Can they tap the drum? As your baby grows, See, Touch, Feel will help your child develop language recognition and motor skills, as they learn to interact with the book in new ways. With lots to explore together, See, Touch, Feel is an ideal first book to share with your baby.
£6.25 -
Never Let A Dinosaur Scribble!
Dinosaurs are pretty strong and powerful, so why can't they scribble?This story is about a little boy who keeps hearing, "Never let a dinosaur scribble!" But in his heart believes that people just don't understand how beautiful scribbling can be. He wonders what would happen if he just gave him one crayon to scribble with, and realizes that the dinosaur had other ideas in mind! The dinosaur ends up creating too much, creating a whole new set of problems. But with a little imagination makes an amazing story!
£11.84 -
Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She...
When Jilly, a happy little kangaroo, has a series of Terrible Temper Tantrums, her parents lovingly help her through them. Children will be very familiar with the frustrations that trigger Jilly's upset feelings, and will applaud her dawning understanding that seeking help and a hug is far superior to the misery of a temper tantrum. Winner of a Gold Mom's Choice Award,First Place in Purple Dragonfly Awards for Picture Books and Growing Pains, Silver Nautilus Award for Best Children's Picture Book, National Parent Product Award Winner, Book Excellence Award Winner.
£11.44 -
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Handpicked by Amazon kids' books editor, Seira Wilson, for Prime Book Box – a children's subscription that inspires a love of reading.Rod Campbell's classic lift-the-flap book Dear Zoo has been a firm favorite with toddlers and parents alike ever since it was first published in 1982. Young readers love lifting the flaps to discover the animals the zoo has sent-a monkey, a lion, and even an elephant! But will they ever find the perfect pet? With bright, bold artwork, a catchy refrain, and a whole host of favorite animals, Dear Zoo is a must for every child's bookshelf.
£5.00 -
Rainbow: A First Book of Pride
A must-have primer for young readers and a great gift for pride events and throughout the year, beautiful colors all together make a rainbow in Rainbow: A First Book of Pride. This is a sweet ode to rainbow families, and an affirming display of a parent's love for their child and a child's love for their parents. With bright colors and joyful families, this book celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and reveals the colorful meaning behind each rainbow stripe. Readers will celebrate the life, healing, light, nature, harmony, and spirit that the rainbows in this book will bring.
£14.34 -
Baby Shark: Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (A Baby Shark Book)
Baby Shark! Doo doo doo doo doo doo! Baby Shark! Doo doo doo doo doo doo! Baby Shark! Doo doo doo doo doo doo! Baby Shark! Baby Shark has become well-known and well-loved by teachers, parents, and children everywhere. And with hilarious and adorable under-the-sea art of Baby Shark, Mama Shark, Daddy Shark, Grandma Shark, and more ocean creatures, kids won't be able to get enough of this silly illlustrated story of a shark family!Children will delight in this silly sing-along story with funny, eye-popping illustrations and informative picture guides to help readers to mimic and act out the hand/foot movements and develop their fine motor skills. By the end of the singalong story, little ones will be laughing, singing, and dancing their way to fun and reading success!Are you up for the Baby Shark reading challenge?
£3.99 -
When I Pray for You
USA TODAY, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLERFrom the author of the best-selling When God Made You comes a new illuminating message about God's design affirming young readers.With lyricism, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion, Matthew Paul Turner reveals the tender emotions connected with watching a beloved child grow up and experience the world. Paired with Kimberley Barnes's vivid and playful illustrations, When I Pray for You is a beautifully affirming book, in which children and parents will see their own stories come to life. When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, and shares with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them. This is a book you will read to your child again and again. Perfect for any occasion, as well as for milestones including baby showers, birthdays, and graduations. From the moment I saw you, I started to pray.Big prayers and small ones I have sent God's way.I prayed you felt safe,full of joy and content.When I whispered "I love you,"you knew what I meant.
£5.59When I Pray for You
£5.59 -
I Love You, Daddy
Little Bear is ready for some grown-up adventures – at least, Daddy Bear thinks so. But they soon discover that Little Bear needs a helping hand. And who can help out better than Daddy Bear? Read along in this fun and playful story, I Love You, Daddy, written by Jillian Harker and beautifully illustrated by Kristina Stephenson. I Love You Daddy celebrates the bond between children and their father with this wonderful story and beautifully illustrated book Hardcover picture book perfect for special reading time together. This charming story is perfect for your storytime rotation! Vibrant illustrations and easy-to-read text make this a perfect story for young readers to practice reading aloud as they get older Great gift for births, showers, Father's Day, birthdays, or any special day to celebrate father's all year long! The "I Love You" series from Parragon is a wonderful collection of books. Look for all titles available including Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, and Grandpa to share in the experience
£4.39I Love You, Daddy
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Never Touch a Porcupine
You must never touch a porcupine . . . except in this book!This woodland-animal-themed touch-and-feel book is perfect for young children. They will love reading the funny rhymes that warn of the dangers of touching the animals . . . and then ignoring the advice!Innovative silicone touches feature throughout the book, with a different texture for children to explore on every spread.
£6.43Never Touch a Porcupine
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Listening with My Heart: A story of kindness and self-compassion
Kindness matters! Especially to ourselves.We talk to kids a lot about how to be friends to others, but not much about how to be friends to themselves. Yet self-acceptance and positive self-talk help them build emotional resilience, happiness and well-being.When Esperanza finds a heart shaped rock, she sees it as a reminder to spread kindness and love in the world. But when the school play doesn't go the way she'd hoped, will she remember to show it to herself?Listening with my heart reminds us of the importance of being friends to ourselves. It also touches on the universal themes of friendship, empathy and kindness. Includes mindfulness and self-compassion activities.A wonderful addition to any home or school library! Free resources to accompany this book can be found at http://bit.ly/gabigarciabooksheart.(Available in Spanish as: Escuchando con mi Corazón.)
£12.10 -
A Is for Awesome!: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the...
Why stick with plain old A, B, C when you can have Amelia (Earhart), Malala, Tina (Turner), Ruth (Bader Ginsburg), all the way to eXtraordinary You―and the Zillion of adventures you will go on?Instagram superstar Eva Chen, author of Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes, is back with an alphabet board book depicting feminist icons in A Is for Awesome: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World, featuring spirited illustrations by Derek Desierto.
£6.22 -
Baby Einstein – My First Library Board Book Block...
Your little one will love to learn with playful characters of Baby Einstein! The library includes 12 sturdy board books the perfect size for little hands with early learning content including words, numbers, colors, shapes and more. All the books are housed in a durable, colorful case with convenient handle, so you can take your book set with you on the go and share hours of entertainment and learning! This Book Block library is special because: Sharing books with your little one strengthens your bond Turning just-my-size pages leads to a lifelong love of reading Includes adorable Baby Einstein animals: Cow, Bird, Duck Cat, Lizard, Monkey, Dog, Octopus, and more
£12.00 -
Baby's First Bible Stories
Sharing your faith with your young child is precious. Snuggle up and read these charming bible stories together. This is the time to sprinkle in life's lessons and interact with your child. Each story ends with a sweet age-appropriate prayer. The board pages and the bright illustrations will engage your child from creation through the resurrection. Makes a wonderful gift for a new baby. Moms and Grandmas alike will enjoy this lovely padded board book. 12 favorite Bible stories and prayers Sweet illustrations help young children stay interested in these favorite stories from the Bible – Creation, Noah, Daniel and the Lions, and more Encourages bonding between parents and children Great gift for baby showers, baptisms or Easter baskets
£5.00 -
Bright Baby Touch & Feel Baby Animals (Bright Baby...
In Roger Priddy's Bright Baby Touch & Feel Baby Animals board book, little learners meet all different sorts of furry and feathery creatures, big and small.With colorful pictures of baby animals, rhyming text to read aloud, and touch and feel textures, this interactive book is perfect for your bright baby to build their reading skills and vocabulary.
£4.95 -
365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes
Snuggle up with your favorite nursery rhymes and drift into the magical worlds of all your most treasured fairy-tale characters. This beautiful story-time treasury brings together the talents of illustrators from around the world, with well-loved stories and rhymes to delight and excite children. Find new stories and adventures to fill your imagination every night before bedtime with 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes. Sweet Dreams! Quick and short stories or rhymes allow adults to adjust how many stories and how much time to spend reading every day Bond with your child through family story time and strengthen a love for books and reading. Favorite classics bring imagination and creativity to storytime. Rich and vivid illustrations and beautifully written tales will bring a smile from ear to ear Over 50 stories and rhymes including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Little Bo-Peep, Miss Mary Mack, Hickory Dickory Dock, Hansel & Gretel, The Lion and the Mouse, The Ugly Duckling and more Collect all titles available in the Parragon padded treasury book collection
£12.70 -
Peek-A Who? (Lift the Flap Books, Interactive Books...
"A board book that's become a staple for baby showers and first libraries, little ones love Nina Laden's simple rhyming text and peek a boo cutouts." Seira Wilson, Amazon EditorColorful pictures and simple rhyming texts help children guess what's peeking through the die cut windows in these two fun board books. The anticipation of what's hiding on the next page and the bright, engaging illustrations will keep youngsters guessing and giggling all the way to the suprise endings.
£6.50 -
Night Night Farm
It's nighttime down on the farm. The animals are in the barn and it's time to say a soft and cozy, "Night, night." Say goodnight to the horse, the dog, and all their farm friends, as you turn the shaped pages and watch as the animals go to sleep, one by one. Perfect for settling your little one into bed and ending with your own, quiet, "Night, night." With irresistibly sweet illustrations and a magical sky of glow-in-the-dark stars, Night Night Farm is the perfect way to end the day.
£5.00Night Night Farm
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I'm the Potty Master! (Easy Potty Training in...
Louie loves being a super hero but his dirty diaper is slowing him down! Maybe it's time to make a change and become….The Potty Master! Louie is an elephant hero that has become tired of having to pause his superhero activities to have his diaper changed. Then one day he wonders what it would be like to wear BIG KID undies. Perhaps, "Louie could blast off like a rocket and save the day a lot faster. Without a dirty diaper, He'd be the Potty Master!" A Note from the publisher: Give Your Child the Courage That He or She Needs to Quickly Conquer New Milestones without Stress or Overwhelm. The toddler years can be the most amazing, yet challenging times. On one hand, it's hard to believe that your little one is growing up before your eyes (and it's the most incredible joy to be part of) but on the other hand, with growing up comes change and new milestones. These transitions can often be daunting for both the child and the parent. We created the character, Louie, with your child in mind. It's our goal that your child will instantly relate with Louie's adventurous spirit, independence and fun loving nature. He or she will giggle through this sweet, rhythmic story but also learn that change can be overcome by a little courage and that the outcome can actually lead to even more fun and adventure! We understand that there are many different tactics and tools to conquer transitions (and that each household may handle them differently), however, we strongly believe that before technique there needs to be a want and desire within the child. The same is true for adults. Think about it, there's no way you're going to learn a foreign language if you don't have the desire. You can be thrown into some of the best classrooms and programs but will have a hard time grasping the information until you're actually interested and motivated. Louie's Little Lessons sole focus is to ignite curiosity and motivation when it comes to facing change (then, the technicalities can be taught whichever way you chose), however, the first and most challenging step is establishing the correct mindset. We hope to help your child finds his/her desire to embrace change and courage for years to come!
£14.63 -
You Belong Here
The stars belong in the deep night sky, and the moon belongs there too, and the winds belong in each place they blow by, and I belong here with you. So begins this classic bedtime book, richly illustrated by award-winning artist Isabelle Arsenault. The pages journey around the world, observing plants and animals, everywhere, and reminding children that they are right where they belong. A beautiful title for new babies, adoptive families, and children of all ages.You are a dream that the world once dreamt,And now you are part of its song.That's why you are here, in the place where you're meant,For this is right where you belong.
£12.89You Belong Here


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And let's talk about the presidential campaign with Mara Liasson, NPR's national political correspondent. Mara, good morning.
MARA LIASSON, BYLINE: Good morning, David.
GREENE: So, we just heard in Cheryl's piece that the NAACP is meeting. They're going to hear from Mitt Romney. They're going to hear from Vice President Joe Biden. They are not expected to hear from President Obama. What do you make of him sitting this one out?
LIASSON: Well, I think that, according to the White House, sending Joe Biden is like sending the president. Joe Biden speaks for the president. There has been some grumbling, as you just heard, that he's taking his base for granted for not showing up at the NAACP, that he's missing an opportunity. But this is a matter of scheduling. He has a lot of work to do in battleground states, according to the campaign. He didn't go to the NAACP in 2010 - Michelle Obama went instead. But the Obama campaign is confident that he can keep his support in the African-American community high - it's in the 90s now. And they're also confident about turning them out in big numbers, and there will be lots of other opportunities, they say, for the president to appear before African-American groups, and to make sure their enthusiasm is high.
GREENE: Well, speaking of confidence in the Obama campaign, they can't be feeling all that good about the new economic numbers. A pretty weak June jobs report. What are we hearing from the White House? What are we hearing from the Romney campaign?
LIASSON: Well, it was a bad jobs report for the president on his bus tour in Ohio this week. He was trying to walk a very fine line, saying that the country is going in the right direction but not fast enough. And, of course, in Ohio the unemployment rate is lower than the national average. That's true in many but not all of the battleground states. He's also trying to expand the frame of reference for voters, saying this trend started long before I was elected. Romney, on the other hand, has the much easier job. He can go out there and say the economy is weak, the president had his chance, he's not up to the job, it's time for someone new.
GREENE: We talk so much about how the economy can really make or break a president running for re-election. I mean, if unemployment does stay around this spot - 8.2 percent - I mean, I suppose the president will be relying more and more on getting his voter groups to turn out; the groups that came out last time - young voters and African-Americans. You say that he's confident in getting African-Americans to the polls. But are these groups mobilizing? Are you sensing that?
LIASSON: Well, he's going to have to because this is the great tension between demographics and fundamentals this year. The fundamentals are terrible for an incumbent president. You've got 8.2 unemployment; doesn't look like it's going to go down by November. GDP growth is anemic. Consumer confidence is down. The president is under 50 percent approval ratings in all the battleground states. So, you could say that President Obama is defying gravity by still being in a dead heat with Mitt Romney. And one of the reasons that he is, is because the changing face of the electorate are giving him a small boost. There are more Hispanics and young people and African-Americans in the electorate. They're making up a greater share of the electorate than they had in the past. And these are the groups that he mobilized in 2008. He is trying to do it again this year, but it's much harder. The Obama campaign doesn't have the wind at their back this time. There's less organic natural enthusiasm for the president. They have to go out and manufacture it with a grassroots operation, and they have a very good one. But we're going to find out this year if it's good enough to overcome the undertow of a bad economy.
GREENE: And conservatives certainly see the wind not behind President Obama's back, and they're beginning to grumble a bit, suggesting that Mitt Romney and his camp really not taking advantage of a moment of opportunity.
LIASSON: Well, this week we saw, not all conservatives, but some pretty important individual voices criticizing Romney. First, it was Jack Welch, who's a kind of corporate hero. He's the former CEO of GE. Then Rupert Murdoch, who tweeted that Romney's advisors were not up to the job. And then in a really scathing editorial by the Wall Street Journal, which is Rupert Murdoch's paper - which is a very important voice for conservatives - saying that Romney was in danger of squandering a historic opportunity to defeat the president by mangling his message on the president's health care law, by not laying out a bold, clear conservative reform agenda. And these conservatives clearly think that the fundamentals aren't enough for Romney. He won't just be swept into office by a bad economy. He needs to do more.
GREENE: And just in the few seconds we have left, Mara, the big decision from the Supreme Court and the health care law, in the week or so that's gone by, have we seen a big change on the campaign trail?
LIASSON: A little bit. Polls since the ruling show the public is now evenly split, instead of being a little tilted to the opposition. Here's a note of caution, however. A Pew poll showed 45 percent of people either didn't know what the court had done or were misinformed and thought the Court had rejected most of the provisions. Among young people, it was 63 percent. So, that either suggests health care won't play a big role in the fall or the president needs to talk a lot more about it and explain what happened.
GREENE: All right. NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Thanks, Mara.
LIASSON: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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"For pioneering theoretical insights that pointed the way to the very fruitful experimental study of CP violation in B decays, and for continuing contributions to the fields of CP and heavy flavor physics."
Background:Ikaros Bigi has studied at the Universities of Munich, Oxford, Pavia and Stanford with scholarships from the Maximilianeum Foundation and the Scholarship Foundation of the German People. He received his Diploma and Ph.D. in 1973 and1977, respectively, from the University of Munich and his Habilitation in 1984 from the RWTH Aachen. He has worked at the Max-Planck-Institute for Physics, CERN, RWTH Aachen, University of Oregon, SLAC, Fermilab and since 1988 at the University of Notre Dame du Lac.
He has been awarded a Mercator Visiting Professorship at the University of Karlsruhe. His research has been in the phenomenology of the Standard Model and of New Physics, with emphasis on the mysteries of quark and lepton flavour dynamics, CP and microscopic T violation and its connection to baryogenesis. In unguarded moments he thinks about the meaning of quantum mechanics. He has benefited tremendously from the insights his colleagues have most generously shared with him, in particular Tony Sanda, Kolya Uraltsev, Misha Shifman, Arkady Vainshtein, Leo Stodolsky, Peter Zerwas and Lalit Sehgal. He is enjoying teaching and interacting with the wonderful students and young researchers he had the privilege to encounter during his career.
Boris Kayser (Chair), Lynne Orr (12/03), Alberto Sirlin ('02 Rcpnt) (12/03), Paul Langacker (Vice Chair) (12/04), Lance Dixon (12/04)


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text: A #1 New York Times Bestseller! In the spirit of FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL and FABLES: WEREWOLVES OF THE HEARTLAND comes the first ever original graphic novel from the pages of #1 New York Times bestselling writer Bill Willingham's FAIREST. FAIREST has explored the secret histories of the most stunning beauties in Fabletown: Cinderella, Snow White, Briar Rose, Rapunzel, and the list goes on and on. In FAIREST IN ALL THE LAND, the best names in comics take their turns fleshing out the pasts of the loveliest Fables in existence. For all those wanting to dive into FAIREST or FABLES, this original graphic novel is a fantastic entry point, as well as a great new chapter for those that have been following Bill Willingham's fairy tale epic for years.


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Awkward smile but so excited! |
I have been working a huge amount of hours at work the last two or three weeks due to school book end-of-summer madness - I worked 16 days in a row, had two off, and am now in the middle of a 12 day stint. I am tired, I am not getting anything done in the evenings, I am a little bit cranky. All that was OK last week though, because I was looking forward to a very special outing on Friday after work: I bought Kev and myself tickets to Riverdance! Deedle-ee-ay-di-ay!
It's playing at the Gaiety Theater all summer, and I finally got my act together and booked two of the second-cheapest seats (35 euros each), which put us in the third or fourth row of the highest seating area.
Sneaky, bad quality phone photo. |
There was a bit of a scare when Kev tried to print the tickets at his office 25 minutes before curtain and needed a password I had completely forgotten. Whoops! Eventually, and as usual with very little time to spare, we were taking our seats on the upper balcony.
I've been in the Gaiety once before, to see an opera with Jen during first year. Kev had also seen one or two things there, but we'd both forgotten how deep the space is - it was VERY far down from our upper balcony to the orchestra seats; a really tall and narrow space.
Now, when I was around 12-13-14-years-old, I was known to borrow the Riverdance VHS from the local public library. Somewhere along the way, someone also gave me the soundtrack. So, I am an enormous dork and know all the music! I was actually a bit surprised that the show has barely changed at all since the movie of it was filmed. I guess I'd been hoping for a few more surprises, but that's my own fault for having obsessed over it a decade ago.
Something exciting happening in the Gaiety Theater... |
In my opinion, Irish dance and trad (traditional music) are so cool, interesting, and impressive that they stand alone and need no embellishment. Riverdance embellishes a lot: there was a lot of smoke machine action, and some very cringe voice-overs talking about the sun and the rivers and the sea. To be honest, I would have been 100% fine with all that if it had been creating some kind of overall narrative...but they weren't related to each other and told no story. It was just plops of faux Celtic mysticism for the sake of it. It seemed very much designed for a non-Irish audience.
But the dancing was amaaaaazing and the woman playing the fiddle was a very commanding performer on top of being a fabulous musician. It was a fun show and a real treat to go see a live performance, and my 13-year-old self was over the moon!


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White Plains is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is the eleventh-largest city in the state of New York, an outer suburb of New York City, and the county seat and commercial hub of Westchester County, a densely populated suburban county that is home to approximately one million people. White Plains is located in south-central Westchester County. Its downtown (Mamaroneck Avenue) is 25 miles (40 km) north of Midtown Manhattan. The city's total population was 59,599 in the 2020 census, up from 53,077 at the 2010 census.
Arthur Manor, Astoria Heights, Battle Hill Association, Bayberry, Baychester, Bedford Corners, Beech Hill, Beech Hill, Beechmont, Beechmont Woods, Belle Haven, Bonnie Crest, Bryant Gardens Corporation, Cedar Knolls, Charlotte Gardens


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Happy Birthday, Hiram Powers
Today, we take a moment to commemorate the 205th birthday of American sculptor Hiram Powers. Born in Woodstock, Vermont, on June 29, 1805, Powers got his real start working as an artist in a wax museum in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was noticed for his representations of scenes from Dante's Inferno, and then moved to Washington, D.C. in 1834, where he created sculptures of prominent politicians. Then, in 1837, he made his way to Florence, Italy, and established his own studio.
Just six years later, in 1843, the neoclassical sculptor produced his most acclaimed work The Greek Slave, a full-length marble statue of a Greek Christian woman in chains. The sculpture traveled around as an exhibition throughout the United States and became both the first nude statue widely accepted by the American public and a figure used to symbolize the abolitionist cause. "It was a tour de force. People knew about it far more than any other piece," says George Gurney, deputy chief curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It had been shown at the Crystal Palace (for the Great Exhibition of 1851) in London and at the New York Crystal Palace in 1853, among other venues. And as a result Gurney says, "He was the first American sculptor to have international fame."
The Smithsonian is fortunate to have an extensive collection of Powers's work, including two versions of The Greek Slave, at its American Art Museum. "He represented the type of subjects—mythological, religious, political and literary—that appealed to people in the day," says Gurney.
Here is a highlights tour:
Clytie - In 1873, Powers carved a marble bust of Clytie, a water nymph from Greek mythology, that is now on display on the second floor, east wing of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). As myth has it, Clytie fell in love with Apollo and never took her eyes off of him. Even when she became a sunflower, she faced him, the sun. In Powers's sculpture, Clytie wears a sunflower in her hair.
Eve Disconsolate - SAAM also has two versions of Powers's famous Eve Disconsolate. One is a marble bust (right) on display on the second floor, east wing, and the other is a full-length plaster model in the Luce Foundation Center, the visible art storage and study center on the third and fourth floors of the museum. The sculpture is Hiram's attempt to convey Eve in the moment she gave in to temptation. Or as the artist once explained, the "expression of bewilderment, distress and remorse, which must have appeared on the face."
Thomas Jefferson - On display on SAAM's second floor, south wing is a full-length, plaster model of Thomas Jefferson. The marble version of the sculpture actually stands at the foot of the east staircase on the House side of the Capitol (opposite a Hiram Powers statue of Benjamin Franklin at the foot of the east staircase in the Senate wing). The likenesses of both Jefferson and Franklin were commissioned by President James Buchanan in 1859, and Powers was paid $10,000 for each. The statue of Franklin was installed in 1862 and Jefferson in 1863.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - Late in his career, Powers focused on sculptures capturing ideals like "Hope" or "Charity" more than portrait busts, but he made an exception for the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The chiseled base of the bust (left) is styled after classical Greek herms.
Hiram Powers died, in Florence, two days before his 68th birthday. As was tradition at the time, friends and fellow sculptors Thomas Ball and Joel Tanner Hart molded a mask directly from Powers's face. The Death Mask of Hiram Powers can be found on the third floor of the Luce Foundation Center.


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Taste and Tweeting Michigan Shady Lane Cellars
Ford, Chevy, Dodge. Ted Nugent, Motown, and Eminem. Tigers, Red Wings, Lions. Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Blue Franc. If we were playing the game "one of these things is not like the other," some would quickly call out the last group as not representing Michigan. With 71 wineries (and growing) Michigan is making quite a statement with quality wine. Still young, the region is expanding acreage and seeing improvements as the vines continue to age. Really, Michigan wine?
When approached by blogger friend Shannon Casey of Michigan by the Bottle to participate in a Twitter tasting event, I didn't hesitate in saying, "yes." I've been following Shannon and Courtney's blog for several months and as ambassadors of Michigan wine he and his wife, Courtney, have had me intrigued by the wines produced in Michigan. Due to absurd wine shipping laws, Michigan wine is hard to come by, so any opportunity to taste what I've only seen and heard on their pod casts became top priority.
Shady Lane Cellars was the featured winery for this taste and tweet event. Producing over 7000 cases from 52 acres of estate vineyards in Northern Michigan, Shady Lane planted grapes in 1988 and produced their first wine in 1992. Located on 150 acre 100 year old fruit farm, Shady Lane's Adam Satchwell is "committed to producing the highest quality fruit with the lowest impact upon our surroundings." Their wine line-up consists of dry and semi-dry Riesling, sparkling wine, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Lemberger, and more!
A Taste and Tweet event is a showcase of all that is awesome about social media. People who would have otherwise never met, share a glass (or in this case 3) of wine for education, entertainment, and awareness of something new. With more than 50 tweeters, even more participating in group gatherings, Michigan was spotlight for the night. The tasting line up consisted of the three wines reviewed below (also shown in the video).
Twitter tasting events show the power of social media. Brand impressions and marketing awareness all lead to increased sales and market presence. The next tasting event is #Chardonnay on May 6. Follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #Chardonnay or share your experience through Facebook at Community Wine Tastings on Twitter.
The NectarView
2008 Shady Lane Dry Riesling
- The Stuff: 100% estate grown Riesling, 142 cases, no residual sugar, 12.2%abv
- The Swirl: Light straw, slight honey color with a ton of bubbles in the glass, but not a sparkling wine
- The Sniff: Very lively floral aromas with yeast and tart apple being predominant. Hints of honey undertones round out the sniff.
- The Sip: A dry crisp apple with medium tart finish. The acidity is nice but the minerality is slightly off on the finish. Beautiful representation of a new world dry Riesling.
- The Score: At $16.50 this is a fantastic deal. I score it a 3+ (out of 5) and would recommend this as a great food wine with spicy food, sushi, and veggie driven pasta dishes.
Great tweet description from @farlanewastaken "Sharp, definitely brash. I think that you've got a bombastic hussy on your hands."
2007 Shady Lane Pinot Noir
- The Stuff: 100% estate grown Pinot Noir, 752 cases, no residual sugar, 13.8%abv
- The Swirl: Very translucent (70%) with tawny port rusty purple tones. Solid color out to the edges.
- The Sniff: Bright candy cherry with hints of sour fruit. Slight pepper and cocoa on the undertones.
- The Sip: Slight cranberry, cherry fruit and rocks; powerful acidity. A slight earthiness throws off the finish. Medium tannin indicates that this wine would cellar well and improve with 1-3 more years in bottle.
- The Score: At $22, I score this a 3 (out of 5). The price is great for a well made Pinot Noir and definitely showcases the potential of Michigan Pinot
Great tweet on the Pinot from @aschie30 Pinot Noir is the one varietal (so far) where I really sense a distinct MI terroir in color, the nose & palate. #ttmi
2008 Shady Lane Blue Franc
- The Stuff: 100% estate grown Blaufrankish (Lemberger), 483 cases, no residual sugar, 12.3%abv
- The Swirl: Bright purple and about 50% translucent. Edges turn clear and watery
- The Sniff: Mellow aromas of blueberries and moss. Swirling generates a little more pepper aroma.
- The Sip: Round mouth feel with a bitter undertone defined by black tea and blueberries. A gentle punch of tannin and acidity finish out the sip.
- The Score: At $22, I score this a 3- (out of 5). I'm comparing this score to my previous experiences with Blue Franc / Lemberger.
NOTE: Some of the tweeters considered this wine their favorite. This shows the complexity and diversity that occurs among tasting.
Great tweet on the Blue Franc from @winegenie Blue Franc (aka Lemberger & Blauufrankish) Palate: velvety texture, soft velour tannins, grapey, smooth, rich warm blueberries.
7 comments on "Taste and Tweeting Michigan Shady Lane Cellars"
Sip with Me! I'm very intrigued by Michigan wine, which all but unheard of on the west coast. Wondering with those stringent shipping laws… how did you get those bottles taste?
Shannon Casey Thanks Josh for participating and for posting a recap. Your insight and palate is appreciated.
WineMonologues Josh
I think you hit each wine right "on the head". . . at least as far as my palate went on that night. Thanks for joining us and spreading the word about Michigan wines!
Ben Simons Such a great time, enjoying some wines from "The Mitten". Looking forward to participating in more events like this one in the future.


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Chopard Porsche (run by Paul Miller Racing) and co-drivers Bryce Miller and Sascha Maassen have good reasons for optimism in the 2012 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season.
Heading into its second full season of competition in one of the world's most competitive endurance championships, the team announced today it would use Dunlop tires on its brand-new Chopard/TOTAL/IPC Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
"We are really excited to announce that we will be using Dunlop tires in 2012," said team owner Paul Miller. "After learning a lot during our first season in GT last year, we expect to take a few steps forward in 2012. Dunlop has been successful in ALMS competition and we're looking forward to adding to that record this season."
"Our preliminary test to evaluate the tires and the relationship going forward was a positive experience," said Bryce Miller. "The chemistry between their engineers and us seems to work quite well and we're excited about the potential to move forward and develop a Porsche tire with them."
Dunlop had an outstanding 2011 season. ALMS drivers and teams using Dunlop tires won championships in the LMP1 and GT classes. Dunlop also won the ALMS LMP1 tire manufacturers championship and the LMP2 championship in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). The tiremaker enters its fourth year of ALMS competition in 2012.
"We have ambitious plans in 2012 to build on our championship-winning successes, and we see Paul Miller Racing as the perfect partner to help develop our tires for the latest specification Porsche," said Ben Michell, Dunlop's motorsport project manager. "Dunlop is proud of our multiple ALMS championships in 2011, and we are delighted that the team has chosen Dunlop as they drive for success in 2012."
"It has been a privilege to watch Paul Miller Racing grow over the past several years, and Porsche Motorsport North America is proud that the team has chosen to contest the American Le Mans Series GT class in a 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR," said Jens Walther, president of Porsche Motorsport North America. "It was great watching the progress of the team in 2011 during its first year in ALMS GT and even better that they are now stepping up with a new car and the new tire manufacturer. We believe in competition and welcome Dunlop as a new tire manufacturer on the RSR – there are now three Porsche customer teams with four cars on three different tires."
The new, Dunlop-shod No. 48 Chopard Porsche makes its public debut in this week's annual American Le Mans Series winter test at Sebring International Raceway. The test will represent the first seat time in the car for Miller and Maassen, and they're eager to get going.
"I haven't driven the new car, but I've heard a lot of good things," said Bryce Miller. "There has been some necessary changes made to the car that bring it up to date with some of the changes that the competitors have made to their cars in recent years. The refresh was really necessary and most everyone is generally excited about the changes that have been made."
"I am really excited about the new Porsche car and the new Dunlop tires," added Maassen. "It's going to change the game for us. We are optimistic that we will improve, and I am very happy that the Paul Miller team decided to let me be part of an interesting and promising program in 2012!"
The 2012 ALMS season begins with the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 17.


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Les plus drôles et touchantes du Web
Les meilleurs clips du Web sont ici
Créez avec vos vidéos et photos
The present cathedral (1922) of Chicoutimi, classic style with a mixture of Romanesque and Italian Renaissance is oriented toward the north. It replaces the first 2 (1878-1915) burned in 1912 and 1919. Its facade is dedicated to St Francis Xavier, patron of the Cathedral, the diocese and the parish.
The Cathedral is majestic. The frescoes of the dome showing the "Christ in Glory" with the Father above and St. Michael the Archangel below. The nave is dominated by the "dual platform" (loft). The Casavant organ is located at the 2nd forum. Before the west pillar of the choir, a red wooden statue decorated with gold leaf represents St. Francis Xavier. The temple also has several stained glass windows and rosettes.
Since December 3, 2006 there is the heart of Bishop Racine, 1st bishop of the diocese.


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San Francisco – Up against the campaign of a wealthy businessman who outspent him nearly 10-to-1, a strong progressive candidate nearly won the runoff election last Tuesday to become this city's mayor. Some national news stories depicted the strong showing for Matt Gonzalez as a big surprise. But it shouldn't perplex anyone when vigorous grassroots organizing combines with a sound strategy to get breakthrough results.
Local elections in San Francisco are officially nonpartisan, and ballots don't indicate party affiliations. But the contenders spoke openly of their party labels. The Democrat in the race, Gavin Newsom, became so worried that Bill Clinton and Al Gore flew in to campaign for him. In contrast, Green Party member Gonzalez relied on several thousand active volunteers.
Contrary to all the conventional media wisdom, the Gonzalez campaign surged to receive 47.4 percent of the votes.
Routinely discounted by pundits in the mainstream media, the Green Party has been making some inroads. The party now claims 205 elected officials in 26 states. This year, Greens won posts ranging from auditor of York, Pa., to alderman in New Haven, Conn., to city commissioner in Kalamazoo, Mich., to water district official in Maine.
These are low-ranking positions, but big political trees can grow from little acorns. That's exactly what happened with Gonzalez in San Francisco. His step-by-step approach, building coalitions along the way, brought him to the point where he is now president of the city's powerful Board of Supervisors.
Gonzalez represents the kind of pragmatic idealism that the Green Party needs. His recent achievements include spearheading a victorious ballot initiative raising the city's minimum wage to $8.50. A strategic thinker, he recognizes the need to build the Green Party from the ground up while striving to prevent Republican consolidation of power.
Next year, in California, the right wing will seek to gain a seat in the U.S. Senate by defeating the liberal Democratic incumbent. Gonzalez, determined to help prevent that, says he intends to back Sen. Barbara Boxer's re-election bid.
Likewise, as the San Jose Mercury News reported on Dec. 7, Gonzalez has a savvy view of next year's race for the White House. In the newspaper's words, Gonzalez spokesperson Ross Mirkarimi said that "if Nader runs again for president in 2004, Gonzalez won't support him."
But many Green Party leaders are insisting on a presidential race next year. At an annual fall meeting, says a Green Party news release, "members of the Wisconsin Green Party unanimously endorsed a statement calling on the Green Party of the United States to run a strong presidential campaign in 2004, while also maintaining focus on races at the local, state, and federal levels." The release noted that similar resolutions had been approved at Green Party gatherings in Michigan, Iowa and New England.
Some Green activists have argued that the party's local campaigns need the sort of media attention and excitement that was generated by Ralph Nader's presidential run under the Green Party banner in 2000. But try telling that to the thousands of Matt Gonzalez supporters who just achieved the most impressive showing for a Green Party candidate in history.
If Nader runs for president again in 2004, his campaign seems doomed to be virtually opposite of the Gonzalez effort. Nader would be lucky to get half as many votes as his previous total of 2.7 percent nationwide. A Nader campaign would not offer voters a chance to wrest the White House away from the right wing. At a time when preventing a second presidential term for George W. Bush is a historic imperative, a Nader campaign would be — at best — beside the point. At worst, a gift to Karl Rove.
There has been a lot of talk among some Green Party leaders about a "safe states" strategy, with the party's presidential campaign efforts being mostly concentrated in states where either Bush or the Democrat has a lock. But that scenario seems to be a fallback illusion for Greens who don't want to fully re-examine the purported wisdom of a Green Party presidential campaign next year.
In the Nov. 24 edition of The Nation magazine, longtime Green Party analyst Micah Sifry quotes Nader as pooh-poohing a safe-states approach: "You either run or you don't. You don't say to people in some states that we're going to ignore you." And Nader added that "no candidate will want to be bound by" that kind of restriction.
For Green Party activists and their candidate, the apparent benefits of a presidential run may include the media coverage, which — however inadequate and slanted — still beats being ignored. But what's at stake far transcends such concerns.


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Review of : Gould, Stephen Jay, 1989, Wonderful Life: The
Burgess Shale and the Nature of History,
W. W. Norton & Co., New York, NY, 347 p., $19.95.
During my graduate school years, I often had to support myself by working as a landscaper.
That gave me substantial firsthand knowledge of the unpredictability of weather. It thus came as no surprise to me when I learned that chaos theory was first elaborated in the field of meteorology.
Chaos theories--currently the rage in physics--were not designed to explain the orderly nature of chaos. Rather, chaos theories attempt to examine the chaotic nature of order! They attempt to look at the chaotic element of not only weather, which is notoriously unpredictable, but predictable phenomena like the orbits of planets. Indeed, both the weather and planetary orbits are equally well fit by theories of chaos. If all things were not so precisely determined by God, we might say "Play it again, Sam," and things would turn out quite differently. So many small, seemingly insignificant events contribute to a planet's orbit or the course of a storm that, if replayed without supernatural guidance, cosmic history might well have left our sun with only five planets (or three, or twenty) and the replay of meteorological history might have led to hurricane Hugo missing the Carolina coast altogether.
Though he never explicitly mentions chaos theory, Stephen Jay Gould has introduced it into what he calls the gentle field of paleontology--i.e. the study of fossils. His latest book, Wonderful Life, is primarily a discourse on what Gould calls the contingency of evolutionary history. If the evolutionary "tape" were played again, there is no way to predict what would happen--and no reason to expect that humans would have existed. In other words, chaos theory may also fit evolutionary history, just as it does cloud growth, planetary orbits, and scores of other events of an apparently orderly nature.
The empirical example Gould uses to develop his contingency argument is what he describes as the Burgess Shale drama-a drama outlined in chapters two through four. Chapter three contains descriptions of the 'exquisite loveliness' of two dozen or so strange animals, found as fossils in a small quarry near the Burgess Pass in the mountains of British Columbia. Truly they are exquisite. These Burgess organisms exhibit the strangeness expected in science fiction rather than science description. Gould places his descriptions and the associated drama of scientific discovery in his central (third) chapter. This chapter takes up half the book. As a paleontologist, I found this chapter at least as fascinating as the remainder of the book. Other reviewers, however, have found this chapter bogged down by too much jargon. And at least one reviewer (erroneously, I think) found the chapter boring.
The second and fourth chapters surround the Burgess descriptions with background on the Burgess story. Chapter two provides the reader with the setting of the Burgess fossils--the importance of the Burgess in both the fossil record and evolutionary theory, and the means by which the fossils were preserved and discovered. Chapter four is an attempt to explain why Charles Doolittle Walcott, whom Gould believes to be the foremost scientist/administrator of America's history, so seriously misinterpreted the Burgess fossils.
The first and last (fifth) chapters elaborate most of Gould's musings on the contingency of evolution--or what I have called the chaotic nature of evolutionary history. Although undisturbed when told that weather patterns are chaotic, many become uneasy when told that our origin is also fraught with the uncertainties of a chaotic pathway. Gould asserts that with the acceptance of scientific orthodoxy, the idea of a creation fashioned for the purpose of man has been completely obliterated. Astronomy relegated the earth to an unspectacular third position among nine about an average star located near the fringes of an average galaxy in an unspectacular galactic cluster. Evolutionary biology declared man to be nothing more than a sexually mature, upright, juvenile ape--one lineage among thousands and one animal among millions. Radiometric dating reserved for man only the last one forty-thousandth of the earth's history. And, lest some view evolution as a steady, inevitable pathway to human intelligence, Gould argues differently. If, as Gould argues, the evolutionary tape were played again, human life would not be expected. In fact, even if it were replayed a million times or more, man would not be expected again.
To conclude, as Gould does, that man is "...a wildly improbable evolutionary event..." (p. 291), "...a detail, not a purpose..." (p. 291), and "...a cosmic accident..." (p. 44) is disconcerting to some, but not to Gould. To him, release from any purpose is 'exhilarating' as it also releases any responsibility to any other, "...offering us maximum freedom to thrive, or to fail, in our chosen way" (p. 323). If ever evolutionary theory has been elaborated to the point of complete incompatibility with a Christian world view, it is by the pen of Stephen Jay Gould in this, his most recent tome.
I would like to introduce two implications of Gould's work (not specifically addressed by him) for those who believe in the Bible. First, consider the subject of accommodation. Over the years theories of accommodation which try to reconcile Scripture and macroevolutionary theory. According to some of these theories, God fashioned man 'from the dust of the earth' via the process of macroevolution. As Gould explains so well, however, a scientifically orthodox understanding of earth history includes many facts that are at odds with the idea that man was a purposeful product of the evolution. Why is it, for example, that for two thirds of the history of the earth, life proceeded no further than bacteria? Why is it that for half of the remaining one third of earth history, life remained one-celled? What is to be made of the possibility that two unsuccessful attempts at multicellularity preceded the one that finally initiated the line to humans? Why was the evolution of mammals delayed for 100 million years by the parenthetical note of the development, domination, and demise of the 'terrible lizards'? Why is it that it took 99,999 out of the 100,000 units of time in the history of this universe for man to come about? And finally, if man is in God's image, does God look like the ape who bore us? Although not expressly designed as a polemic against theological theories of accommodation, Gould's arguments nonetheless bear upon them. The very nature of God comes into question if He chose evolution as a means to form man. The literal reading of the macroevolutionary history of the earth is that man is an accident--at best an afterthought of nature's process.
The second implication that I would like to consider has to do with the second 'great problem' posed by the Burgess organisms (the first being the chaotic nature of macroevolutionary history). In particular, "How did the diversity of the Cambrian (the Burgess and similarly aged animals) arise in the first place?". The rocks older than the Cambrian lack organisms ancestral to most of the Cambrian animals, but do not lack the ability to preserve the animals, if they ever existed. As Gould reflects, the origin of the Burgess is a challenge to current evolutionary theory. Gould includes in his book a brief discussion on how this unknown evolutionary mechanism might work. To aid the reader's understanding, Gould creates the metaphor of the 'Great Token-Stringer' who constructs the Burgess organisms by stringing together organismal features chosen at random from an orderly grab bag of goodies. Though it is only introduced as a pedagogical tool, it is interesting that the most natural and easily understood mechanism for the origin of the Cambrian chimeras is a being of remarkable manipulative ability and power. Though that is by no means what my mentor intends in this book, I do see reasons to believe that Gould's chimeras are constructed not by the hand of evolutionary theory but by the loving hand of an omnipotent and all-knowing God.
Though not an easy read, Gould's Wonderful Life is a worthwhile volume. In it one meets a great thinker and can ponder with him some of the most disturbing philosophical implications of evolutionary theory.
Kurt Wise holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Harvard University, where Stephen Jay Gould was his advisor. Dr. Wise is currently Assistant Professor of Science and director of an origins research program at Bryan College in Dayton Tennessee.
Copyright © 1997 Kurt P. Wise. All rights
reserved. International copyright secured.
File Date: 3.11.97


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Religious Right Uppity Over Britney Spears' 'Will & Grace' Appearance
Not realizing it was lack of advertisers instead of their religious whinings that caused NBC to cancel its Book of Daniel, The American Family Association is all hot and bothered again over Britney Spears' appearance on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace in which she plays a co-host during a new cooking segment called "Cruci-fixin's" on the show's fictitious TV network, recently purchased by a Christian TV network.
AFA Special Projects Director Randy Sharp blathered, "They would not be making fun of Mohammed or Buddha. It's almost sacrilegious. I wonder who is at the helm of NBC that they are not getting the message. NBC doesn't seem concerned that they are tanking because they are offending their viewers and running them off." Though it's in its last season, Will & Grace is hardly tanking.